Company perks like unlimited PTO, bringing your dog to work and commuter stipends continue to play a role in startup culture. What's stocked in the break rooms is no different.
We connected with four Austin tech companies to see how they keep their teams happy at the office by keeping their pantries loaded with fan favorites and coolers filled with energy fuel.
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The 2010 cloud-based security company out of Ann Arbor, MI, opened up its Austin location in June this year. So much Sriracha.
What are your employees' favorites that you just never seem to be able to keep enough in stock?
Topo Chico!
What failed to gain popularity that the team introduced?
Fancy coffee bar brewer that is too complicated to use (looking at you, AJ).
What's been the strangest employee request?
Aged 24 months Whole Wheel Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Name the three items every break room should have:
1. Topo Chico
2. Music
3. Chocolate
Responses provided by Warner Ren, Office Coordinator, Duo Security
Quantcast, founded in 2006 in San Francisco, opened its Austin office in fall of 2015 originally at Capital Factory. Last month, the team of 60 Austinites relocated to a larger office off 183 in Riata Corporate Park. The digital ad and audience measurement firm had one of the strangest employee break room requests.
What are the toughest to keep in stock?
La Croix, Hint Water, Gold Fish, and cold brew coffee. If I turn around for too long, they’re gone.
Has there been "misses" when trying something new that just failed to take off?
Well, we have a very health conscious office. When we opened our new space we stocked it with a variety of the standard sodas. Since then, they’ve mostly just been taking up space.
What's the most absurd employee request you've received?
We recently had an employee request an oxygen bar.
Name the three items every break room should have:
1. Music
2. An over-abundance of caffeinated beverages
3. Advil (They have a bit of a symbiotic relationship)
Responses provided by Ari Sacharow, Office Manager, Quantcast
Publishing Goliath Condé Nast developed its Austin team earlier this year. Working out of Capital Factory until deciding upon a location to settle in with their team of 50, Condé Naste employees are going through a test run of their favorite snacks and iced beverages at the co-working space.
What seems to be the favorite item amongst your Austin team?
Cold brew, I looked into IVs—not available yet.
What's failed to take off?
A snack of raw vegetables hasn't gone over well, but Capital Factory has spoiled us, and we are getting accustomed to a daily 3 p.m. snack, like after school.
Any odd requests?
Not yet, but Horchata agua fresca is out there—they like to mix it with cold brew, ½ and ½
Name the three items every break room should have:
1. ICE
2. ICE
3. ICE
There’s never enough ice. Non-sugar drinks other than water, and ample space for gathering, just like Thanksgiving, people always end up in the kitchen.
Responses provided by Kalinda Howe, Operations and Culture, Condé Nast ATX
The leading digital offers marketplace, RetailMeNot, now has eight other offices in addition to its Austin HQs. We wanted to learn more about what's in RetailMeNot's break rooms after seeing a social media post by an employee showing an ode to a Juiceland tap on site.
What are your employees' favorites that run out the fastest?
It's tough to keep yogurt and vanilla ice cream in stock.
Has there been "misses" when trying something new that just failed to take off?
For a while, our Vitamix was pretty neglected, but more recently, a new trend has caught on to create smoothies with fruits and veggies from the daily salad bar. We also have a pancake printer — it's a really cool piece of technology, but it's not currently being widely used. It's still new, so we'll see if that changes.
What are some notable requests?
It runs the gamut from extremely healthy, to not so healthy. On the one hand, we've had requests for a soft serve ice cream machine, and on the other, someone requested implementing "Meatless Monday." I should note that we do provide daily vegetarian lunch options.
Name the three items every break room should have:
1. Communal areas
2. Comfortable seating
3. A wide variety of snacks ranging from very healthy to chocolate and ice cream.
Responses provided by Michelle Skupin, Senior Director, Global Corporate Communications RetailMeNot
Images provided by companies
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